By Michael Guerin
Matt Purvis has his sights set on a first Group 1 victory and he couldn’t think of a better owner to do it for.
Purvis trains Royal Monarch who won his debut by eight and a half lengths in the hands of John Dunn in the juvenile trot at Addington on Friday night.
That sort of victory this early in the season has Purvis thinking about the $100,000 Young Guns Trot at Alexandra Park on May 8 and a shot at a first career Group 1 training victory.
“He is actually owned by my father [John], who bred him from Miss Poppet a mare he raced who won three races,” explains Purvis.
“She was a better mare than we got the chance to see because she got injured but she has left us two nice horses.
“So to have Dad own him and have a real shot at a Group 1 is awesome.
“I have had a couple of Group 1 placings but to win one with Dad would be the ultimate.”
That means Royal Monarch, a son of Royal Aspirations, will likely head to Alexandra Park on April 24 for the Young Guns qualifer and the final that he must now be one of the favourites for.
While Purvis is aiming at a special target with his trotter trainer-driver Ben Hope achieved a milestone with another one when he reined Mr Love to win Friday’s main trot.
It was Hope’s 300 career driving success and he earned it, making the race-winning move when he cut the corner from the one-one to the trail at the 300m and then used passing lane to run down Eurostyle.
“It is funny I think my 100th winner was on Midnight Dash, my 200th was Muscle Mountain and now my 300th on this horse,” said the 26-year-old.
“It goes to show the level of horses, particularly trotters I have been lucky enough to drive.
“Obviously so much of that comes from Mum and Dad but I also means I didn’t get a lot of outside drives when I was starting out so this is a figure I am stoked to get to.”
Mr Love will head north next month for the Anzac and Rowe Cups, races he finished second in last season.
Another trotter doing good things is Ah Dinnae Ken who made it four wins from her last five starts for trainer-driver Craig Ferguson while later in the card the Hayden and Amanda Cullen team had a double with Ashley Frank and Mystery Creek.
And Warren Stapleton wrapped the night with Take The Miki winning to give him a training double as well after Next Level’s success in the main pace.